Man Utd talking points: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Glazers' long-term strategy, Marcus Greenwood and more

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Here was another of those 'short-term distractions' for Manchester United.

In the world of commerce, that's how losing a football match is described. It's a handy way of glossing over the details.

Details like losing 1-0 to a relegation-threatened side, who started the day second from bottom of the Premier League and still licking their wounds after a 5-0 drubbing the previous week.

Details like an 11th straight away game without victory.

Details like a gap of just two points separating the most successful and famous club in the country from the bottom three.

The devil is in the detail, yet Ed Woodward chose his most recent public address to assure both investors and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that United's long-term strategy won't be influenced by short-term distractions.

After Matty Longstaff's 72nd-minute winner plunged United deeper into crisis it was hard to discern precisely what that strategy is. Remember, this is a team that finished second only to Pep Guardiola's record-breaking Manchester City the season before last. The nature with which it has unravelled in that time has been spectacular.

To put it in context, Jose Mourinho was sacked after taking 26 points from 17 league games last term. ​Solskjaer now has 17 from his last 17 and the insistence that time will cure all ills simply doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Solskjaer presides over a squad with such a dearth of quality that even League One Rochdale could hold them to a draw at Old Trafford two weeks ago. Little surprise then that Newcastle should fare even better – even amid their own crisis.

A stat late on that Harry Maguire, with four touches in the opposition box, had more than any other United player sums up the problems that run deep within this club.

That Solskjaer was left ruing the £80m centre back's failure to convert a late first-half corner against the run of play confirmed how utterly insipid this performance was.

REUTERS

United do not create chances and do not score goals. They've now hit seven in 10 and in 20 out of 23 games they've failed to score more than once. So much for returning to their roots with front foot, attacking football to get supporters out of their seats.

To their credit, the travelling fans sang long and proud on a wet and miserable day and, notably, the only focus of their ire as defeat beckoned was the club's ownership, rather than manager or players.

Solskjaer's legendary status and honesty is buying him time with the paying public. Six years and counting of managed decline under the Glazers is only intensifying the ill will towards the Americans.

And if that anger intensifies, it remains to be seen if this ever-lengthening slump will still be viewed as a short-term distraction – or if the owners will look for their own way to distract the club's following.

That's when we will find out just how committed they are to the long-term strategy.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

Greenwood

Solskjaer has staked his reputation and, possibly, his job on his faith in youth.

There is no doubt he is trying to provide a pathway to United's next generation, with Axel Tuanzebe one of those to benefit from his decision to clear out experienced players like Chris Smalling. But his handling of Marcus Greenwood looks more puzzling by the day.

It's wholly understandable that he wants to protect the forward, who has only just turned 18, but these are desperate times at United.

The absence of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard has left Solskjaer short of attacking options. The sheer lack of goals in his squad is alarming and Greenwood, though raw, is a genuine goal threat.

To continue to name him on the bench at a time when United are desperate for goals and points, is just baffling.

REUTERS

Longstaff(s)

United spent the summer trying to sign Sean Longstaff – and Solskjaer remains an admirer. After this, he may just fancy a punt at the younger of the brothers, Matty.

His goal, on his Premier League debut, heaped the pressure on the United manager and proved the talent runs deep in this family.

While Sean was combative without the ball and composed with it, Matty provided the real danger from midfield. He struck the bar in the first half to fire a warning to United and when he unleashed a low, powerful drive to beat De Gea after the break, it was confirmation of his threat coming from deep.

Frankly, both would easily improve a United team desperately short on quality and confidence – and they're not the only ones that could be said about, despite Newcastle's fears of relegation this season.

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